Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-05-29
CHAPTER XVII.
THE TWELFTH OF FEBRUARY.

THE TWELFTH OF
John o settled down into the routine
Of camp life in Pretoria, which, alter n
nnce got accustomed to it, was not so dlsa-
greeable a. might have been expected, ana
possessed, at any rate, the merit of novelty.
Although he WAS an officer OF the army,
John preferred on the whole, having sew
eral horses to ride, and, his services not
being otherwise required, he made up his
mind to enroll himself in the corps oi
mounted volunteers known as the Pretoria
carbineers, in the humble capacity OF a
sergeant, and this he obtained
leave to do from the officer COM
handing the troops. He was an active
man, and his duties in connection with
the corps kept him fully employed during
most of the day, and sometimes, when
there was outpost duty to be done, during
a good part of the night too. For the rest,
whenever he got back to the cart-by
which be had stipulated he should be
allowed to sleep in order to protect Jess
in case of any danger-he always found
her ready to greet him, and every little
preparation made for his comfort that was
possible under the circumstances. Indeed,
rs time went on they fouud II more
convenient to set up their own
little mess instead OF sharing that
of their friends, and 50 they used every
day to sit down to breakfast and
dine together at a little table rugged up ont
of q packing case, and placed under an eX-
temporary tent, al for the world like a
young couple picnicking on their honey
moon. OF course the whole thing was
very irksome in a way, but it is not to be
denied that it had n charm of its own. To
begin with, jess, when once one got
thoroughly to know her, was one of the
most delightful companions to n man like
John Mel that it was possible to meet
with. Never, till this long tete a tete at
Pretoria, had he guessed how powerful and
original was her mind, or how witty she
could he when she liked. There was a
fund of dry and suggestive humor
about her which, although 1t would 10
more bear being written down than
champagne will bear standing in Il tum-
bier, was very pleasant to listen to, more
especially rs John soon discovered that he
was the only person so privileged. Her
friends and relations had never suspected
that Jess was humorous. Another thing
that struck him about her, as time went
on, was that she was growing quite hand
some. She had been very pale II thin
when he reached Pretoria, but before n
month was over she had got comparatively
speaking, stouk which was an enormous
gain to her appearance. Her pale face,
too, gathered q faint tinge Of color, that
came and went capriciously, like starlight
on the water, and her beautiful eyes grew
deeper and more beautiful than ever.
"Who would ever have thought that it
was the same grip" said Mrs. Neville to
him, holding up her hands as she watched
Jess solemnly surveying q half cooked
mutton chop; why, she used to he such a
poor creature, and now she's quite q fine
woman. And that with this life, too,
which is wearing me to q shadow, and has
half killed my dear daughter"
81 suppose it is being in the open air, 3"
said John, it having never occurred to him
that the medicine that WAS doing Jess so
much good might be happiness. But so il
was. At first there had been a struggle,
then a lull, and after that an idea. Why
should she mol enjoy his society while
she could: He had been thrown iNto
her way through no wish of hers.
She had no desire To wear him from
Bessie: on # she had a desire, il was One
she was far too honorable u woman to en-
terrain. lie was perfectly innocent Of the
whole story; 70 him she was the young
lady who happened TO be the sister of thu
woman he was going TO marry, that was
all. Why should she not pluck her limo
cent r0sCB while she might? She forgot
that the roe isa ilOwe- with a dangerous
perfume, an une hat is apt to .onius,
Int senses and turn the head. SoshG gave
herself tull swing, and Tor zone weeks
went nearer Ia knowing what happiness
really mean, than she ever rad before.
What a wonderful thing is the love Of
woman in its simp.i 'ity and s~.rrngtb, md
how it gilds all the poo ana common
things Of life, aud even finds - JOY IN ser
vice The proudcr the wonan the more
delight does 81. extract from her selI
abasement before her idol, Only not
many women can love like Jess, and when
they du they almost Invariably make some
fatal mistake, whereby the wealth Of their
u,ectiun is wasted, ur wors. 7tili, bcc9we-
d source rI misery or hamr 90 themselves
al other
ITO III CONTINUED.